Ecclesiastes 1:14 - Exposition

Here is the result of this examination of human actions. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun. In his varied experience nothing had escaped his notice. And behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit ; reuth ruach ; afflictio spiritus (Vulgate); προαίρεσις πνεύματος , "choice of spirit," or, "wind"; νομὴ ἀνέμου (Aquila and Theodotion); βοσκήσις ἀνέμου , "feeding on wind" (Symmachus). This last translation, or "striving after wind," seems to be most agreeable to the etymology of the word רְעוּת , which, except in this book ( Ecclesiastes 2:11 , Ecclesiastes 2:17 , Ecclesiastes 2:26 , etc.), occurs elsewhere only in the Chaldee portion of Ezra ( Ezra 5:17 ; Ezra 7:18 ). Whichever sense is taken, the import is much the same. What is implied is the unsubstantial and unsatisfying nature of human labors and endeavors. Many compare Hosea 12:2 , "Ephraim feedeth on wind," and Isaiah 44:20 , "He feedeth on ashes." In contrast, perhaps, to this constantly recurring complaint, the author of the Book of Wisdom teaches that murmuring is unprofitable and blasphemous (Wis. 1:11). Bailey, in 'Festus,' sings—

"Of all life's aims, what's worth the thought we waste on't?

How mean, how miserable, seems every care!

How doubtful, too, the system of the mind!

And then the ceaseless, changeless, hopeless round

Of weariness, dud heartlessness, and woe,

And vice, and vanity! Yet these make life—

The life, at least, I witness, if not feel

No matter, we are immortal."